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A Writers’ Critique Group

The Appalachian Round Table (aka ART) serves Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties in North Carolina. Formed in 2003 by six Asheville-area participants in the UNCA Great Smokies Writers Program, the group is named to honor our scenic mountains and to recall the Algonquin Round Table, a 1920s cadre of writers who met at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. We meet alternate Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Mills River Diner.

Original members were: Tom Hooker, Jeanne Howe, Joel Mayne, Megan Shepherd, Sheila Valenti, and Glenn York. As in all dynamic groups, members come and go. CURRENT MEMBERS are tabbed above . Like tiger moms, we tiger writers insist on effort to produce both fiction and nonfiction. Click on an author’s tab to learn more about these writers.

ART provides:
CRITICISM–we discuss pages given out at the previous meeting by up to three writers and provide tactful, constructive suggestions that might improve the piece.
CRAFT IMPROVEMENT–we cover the techniques and mechanics to hones the craft.
HUMAN CONTACT. Talking with other writers combats the isolation of the writing life. Sharing your process with others beats snarling alone at a blank computer screen.
INCENTIVE–we meet fortnightly.

ART also provides this WEB SITE to advertise your writing and to facilitate communication. We’re looking for new members interested in a good edit or two. Give us a try by posting a message on the site or by calling one of the members–we’re in THE BOOK.. May your writing prosper.

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3 thoughts on “Home”

Hi fellow ex-round tablers,
Just a note to let you know I published my book, “Riding the Second Wave: How Feminism Changed Women’s Psychology and Mine.” on CreateSpace. It is available on Amazon in paper and on Kindle.
Thank you for all your help in making this book possible. I would recommend this writers group for those in our area who want thoughtful critiques of their writing.

Book Chat Thursday, February 23, at 10 a.m. at Highland Books, Asheville Hwy, Brevard.
Bob Brooks will lead this month’s book chat . Join him for a discussion of a type of book that occupies shelves and shelves in book stores, namely Fantasy Books. Bob will offer his opinions and invite participants’ input on such topics as definition of fantasy, its origins, the morass of subgenres, great series, new authors, and great epic fantasy, the category for his 2015 novel from Leo Publishing, Justi the Gifted.

J.K. Rowling cringed at the attention she got after the first Harry Potter book appeared. “If you want to be an author, the odds are you’re a pretty introverted person. And fame demands pretty much the reverse mindset. I imagined a very quiet life. I hadn’t expected to be papped (photographed by papparazzi) in a swimsuit.” [The Week, Jan 15, 2016]. I am still waiting to be papped. Even bought a new bathing suit.